Terrorism
is a term used to describe violence or other harmful acts. Terrorism
expert Walter Laqueur in 1999 has counted over 100 definitions and
concludes that the "only general characteristic generally agreed upon is
that terrorism involves violence and the threat of violence". Most
definitions of terrorism include only those acts which are intended to
create fear or "terror", are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as
opposed to a "madman" attack), and deliberately target "non-combatants".
As
a form of unconventional warfare, terrorism is sometimes used when
attempting to force political change by: convincing a government or
population to agree to demands to avoid future harm or fear of harm,
destabilization of an existing government, motivating a disgruntled
population to join an uprising, escalating a conflict in the hopes of
disrupting the status quo, expressing a grievance, or drawing attention
to a cause.
The terms "terrorism" and "terrorist" (someone who
engages in terrorism) carry a strong negative connotation. These terms
are often used as political labels to condemn violence or threat of
violence by certain actors as immoral, indiscriminate, or unjustified.
Those labeled "terrorists" rarely identify themselves as such, and
typically use other generic terms or terms specific to their situation,
such as: separatist, freedom fighter, liberator, revolutionary,
vigilante, militant, paramilitary, guerrilla, rebel, jihadi or
mujaheddin, or fedayeen, or any similar-meaning word in other languages.
Terrorism
has been used by a broad array of political organizations in furthering
their objectives; both right-wing and left-wing political parties,
nationalistic, and religious groups, revolutionaries and ruling
governments.[1] The presence of non-state actors in widespread armed
conflict has created controversy regarding the application of the laws
of war.
An International Roundtable on Constructing Peace,
Deconstructing Terror (2004) hosted by Strategic Foresight Group
recommended that a distinction should be made between terrorism and acts
of terror. While acts of terror are criminal acts as per the United
Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 and domestic jurisprudence of
almost all countries in the world, terrorism refers to a phenomenon
including acts, perpetrators of acts of terror and motives of the
perpetrators. There is a disagreement on definition of terrorism.
However, there is an intellectual consensus globally that acts of terror
should not be accepted under any circumstances. This is reflected in
all important conventions including the United Nations counter terrorism
strategy, outcome of the Madrid Conference on terrorism and outcome of
the Strategic Foresight Group and ALDE roundtables at the European
Parliament
